Cypriot, Greek leaders against U.N. plan

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, April 08, 2004

Cypriot, Greek leaders against U.N. plan

Both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders came out Wednesday against a United Nations plan to reunify the war-divided island, and urged voters to reject it in a referendum set for April 24.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Both the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders came out Wednesday against a United Nations plan to reunify the war-divided island, and urged voters to reject it in a referendum set for April 24.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan submitted the plan as a last-ditch attempt to reunite the island after 30 years of separation before Cyprus joins the EU on May 1. The two sides and the Greek and Turkish governments failed on March 29 to reach an agreement of their own after lengthy talks.

Veteran Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash's opposition has long been known, but his Greek Cypriot counterpart, President Tassos Papadopoulos, had withheld judgment until now.

In a televised speech, Papadopoulos said that rather than leading to the reunification of Cyprus, the plan "makes its (current) partition permanent."

"After judging all the facts and with a full realization of the historic moment we live through and my heavy responsibility, I am sincerely sorry that I cannot sign acceptance of the Annan plan," Papadopoulos said.

Denktash held a news conference in Ankara where he also urged voters to reject the plan. Denktash repeated his belief that the plan will make Cyprus a Greek Cypriot island and wipe out Turkish Cypriots in the northern half.

Papadopoulos said he had consulted foreign constitutional law experts and listened to arguments for and against the plan.

The two major Greek Cypriot political parties, the Communist Akel the main partner in Papadopoulos' ruling coalition government and the opposition right wing Democratic Rally have backed the plan.

Cyprus has been divided since a 1974 Turkish invasion following an abortive coup by Greek Cypriot supporters of union with Greece. A breakaway Turkish Cypriot state in the north is only recognized by Turkey, which maintains 40,000 troops there.

If Cyprus remains divided after May 1, EU laws and benefits will only apply to its internationally recognized Greek Cypriot southern part.

The European Union's expansion commissioner, Guenter Verheugen, said from Brussels earlier Wednesday that the opportunity for reunification of the island "should not be missed."

Source: agencies

Questions?Comments? Click here

Annan's revised Cyprus plan draws mixed reaction

Cyprus reunification talks fail

China tries to break Boeing, Airbus domination with self-made aircraft ( 6 Messages)

Will "Section 301" affect Chinese economy? ( 2 Messages)

Taiwanese businessmen further expand investment in Chinese mainland ( 2 Messages)

Japanese court rules PM's shrine visit "unconstitutional" ( 12 Messages)

China urges US to honor promise on Taiwan issue ( 4 Messages)

How the US could improve its image abroad ( 202 Messages)